The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has announced plans to introduce a compulsory one-credit course in the fundamentals of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for all students, beginning next semester.
Vice-Chancellor Prof. Rita Akosua Dickson revealed the initiative during a recent management retreat, highlighting it as a key component of the university’s newly approved AI Strategy. The strategy seeks to foster digital citizenship, responsible technology use, and innovation across all academic disciplines.
According to management, the new course is designed to ensure that every KNUST graduate—whether pursuing medicine, engineering, the arts, or social sciences—acquires a foundational understanding of AI. The decision aligns with global calls for higher education institutions to prepare students for a rapidly evolving digital future where AI is reshaping industries and everyday life.
The university has already laid the groundwork through e-learning weeks, staff capacity-building programs, and partnerships with national and international stakeholders. The new course, therefore, represents a significant step in embedding these efforts into the core student learning experience.
While the full syllabus is yet to be released, the course is expected to cover the basics of AI, ethical considerations, and practical applications relevant across disciplines. It will be worth one credit hour and will commence in the upcoming semester. For many students, this will mark their first structured exposure to AI. As one third-year economics student expressed on social media: “It’s encouraging to know that no matter your field, you won’t leave KNUST without at least some AI literacy.”
Globally, AI literacy is increasingly recognized as a critical skill for graduates. By making the course mandatory, KNUST positions itself as a pioneer in Ghanaian higher education, underscoring its commitment to digital innovation, ethical responsibility, and global competitiveness. Prof. Dickson emphasized that the greater challenge lies in harnessing AI not merely for efficiency, but for solutions that are both compassionate and responsive to societal needs.
As the next semester approaches, anticipation is building around the rollout and how students will embrace this new academic requirement—one that could define the future of higher education in Ghana.
